As we race towards the August bank holiday, it can only mean one thing…. panic. It’s the Steep flower show this weekend and I’ve got so much to do!

My obsession with allotmenteering came about because of the flower show (pictured right, top, in 2018)!

In the summer after I got the allotment a few years ago, I went along to have a nose around the show to see what it was all about.

I was amazed to see what I thought were impossible-to-grow straight carrots, perfect onions, sets of beans that looked like they were clones of each other, vases of the most fabulous flowers and all sorts of hand-made crafts, and other flower show goodies.

The winner of each class had a little red card, and more often than for the veg classes a chap called Tom Munday had his name written on them.

I went and found Tom, and much to my surprise he took me around his exhibits and told me the variety and how to grow them.

That was it, I was hooked – and here I am today waxing lyrical about my passion for growing veg and now flowers too!

This year is special or the show as it is celebrating its 100th year.

And over the years it’s been quite the spectacle, the first show being held at Ashford Chace on Saturday, July 23, 1921.

The advertisement in the Hants & Sussex News promised children’s sports, greasy pole for all, madrigals and dancing from 7pm to 10pm.

Admission was 1/8d (about 8p) including tax (!) or 8d (3p).

The second show featured a lioness owned by Petersfield newspaper vendor Fred Kimber, pictured above selling papers outside the Square Brewery pub (photo courtesy of Petersfield Museum).

Before the show, its roaring had been the subject of a complaint to the-then Petersfield Urban District Council.

But in fact the lioness was 20 years old and as docile as a cat.

The first show after the war was in 1950 on Steep Common, as reported by The Hants & Sussex News, on August 16, 1950.

The headline highlights a 30lb marrow entered by Lord Ivor Spencer Churchill (pictured bottom left), who at the time owned Little Langleys house in Steep.

And third in the 100 yards race was John Dodd of the Harrow Inn, who went on to become a renowned Fleet Street journalist. There were far more side shows than now – the one I liked was bowling for a pig!

This year we don’t have a lion, but the organisers have gone out of their way to make it a special event!

So on Saturday (August 28) from 2pm to 4pm at Bedales School in Steep there is usual show, with veg, flowers, arts and crafts, children’s classes, baking and flower arranging.

There is also music from a quartet from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (pictured below), and Andrew Martin is bringing some Bedales farm animals for children to pet.

Chris Page works with wood from the Steep churchyard yew tree and has turned out bowls and hand-carved spoons to sell, with all proceeds going to Friends of Steep Church.

There will also be a display about the history of the show, and some traditional village fete games, a tombola, splat the rat, wellie wanging, with lovely cakes to enjoy in the sunshine with a nice cup of tea.

We will also have on sale some very nice commemorative aprons – sported by the committee on the show day.

So come and join us – you might get inspired to grow, or just help celebrate this milestone in the show’s history.

Steve Amos